Scott Pendlebury

Several supporters wrote to the club.

decrying the fact that Fitzroy had given Rantel the opportunity of breaking the record set by one of the great lines, Kevin Murray.

So today it's social media where you send your hate.

Back in the day, it was writing letters.

Some things never change.

However...

Fitzroy's secretary, Kevin Dixon, I quote now, remains unconcerned by the supporters' criticism, saying, that's why we are running the club and those letters are why they are supporters.

Now, Murray was more than happy Rantel would break his record, with John actually giving the number one at Fitzroy the same number that Kevin Murray broke the record in for Fitzroy.

Rantel, chased up by the press, was also similarly direct as his club's secretary in the face of criticism was quoted, I will be disappointed if people think I only want to break the record.

I didn't train for six months to play four games.

My ambition is to complete the season.

End of quote.

So...

There's letters, there's controversy, there's negativity.

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

Now, along those lines, stick with me.

I'm getting right into this.

I've been in the history books for you.

In the week of the record, John was quoted as saying, "...the fact is that players are so much fitter nowadays and therefore able to compete so much harder and longer than when I started."

Rantel, here's the good bit, recalled the attitude of several players, including Max Papley, remember the name, Max Papley at South Melbourne in his early days.